Question 1

It is possible for the prime minister to name someone to the Cabinet who has not won the election.

Accepted Answer

Yes, the prime minister can appoint anyone they choose to the Cabinet, regardless of whether or not they won the election. However, the appointed individual must still be a member of Parliament or the House of Lords.

Question 2

Individual ministerial responsibility means that all ministers must publicly defend all Cabinet policies or else resign.

Accepted Answer

Cabinet solidarity means that all ministers must publicly defend all Cabinet policies or else resign.

Question 3

Institutionalized cabinets were a characteristic of the Canadian cabinet before 1960.

Accepted Answer

Departmental cabinets were a characteristic of the Canadian cabinet before 1960.

Question 4

An order in council is a formal decision taken by the Canada Council.

Accepted Answer

An order in council is a formal decision taken by the Cabinet acting as the Privy Council.

Question 5

Canada is said to have a dual executive.What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Canada has a dual executive system where symbolic powers are given to the Queen, but the effective executive consists of the prime minister and the Cabinet. This means that while the monarch retains some formal authority, the actual governing power lies with the elected officials.

Question 6

Consider a government characterized by a monarch who is head of state but who rules according to the Constitution, which confides almost all governmental power into other hands.What form of government is this?

Accepted Answer

This is a constitutional monarchy, as the monarch technically holds the position of head of state but has limited power due to the Constitution confiding most power to other government officials.

Question 7

What title is given to an MP who is appointed to assist a Cabinet minister?

Accepted Answer

A parliamentary secretary is an MP appointed to assist a Cabinet minister by performing various tasks such as handling parliamentary business, communicating with MPs and stakeholders, helping to develop policies, and acting as a liaison between the minister and government departments. The other options (B, C, and D) are not typically used to describe MPs who assist Cabinet ministers. A parliamentary assistant may refer to an assistant to an MP, but not necessarily one who works with a minister. An executive assistant typically works in a private sector company or organization. A chief of staff is a senior advisor who manages the staff and operations of a minister's office or department.

Question 8

What is the Minister of State for Democratic Renewal also known as?

Accepted Answer

The Minister of State for Democratic Renewal is also known as the PCO (Privy Council Office) Minister.

Question 9

Parliamentary secretaries are Cabinet ministers.

Accepted Answer

Parliamentary secretaries are not Cabinet ministers.They are ministers-in-waiting.

Question 10

Which part of the country was not adequately represented in Trudaeu's cabinet?

Accepted Answer

Western Canada was not adequately represented in Trudeau's cabinet. This region did not receive as many cabinet appointments as other regions, and some key ministries that are important to Western Canada, such as Agriculture, were not given to MPs from this region.

Question 11

The Canadian head of state is the prime minister.

Accepted Answer

The Canadian head of state is the Queen of England.

Question 12

The speech from the throne is written and delivered by the governor general.

Accepted Answer

The speech from the throne is written by the government but delivered by the governor general.

Question 13

A Canadian constitutional convention requires that each province be represented in the Cabinet.

Accepted Answer

This is a practice known as regional representation, ensuring that all parts of Canada are included in the federal government's Cabinet, reflecting the country's federal structure and diversity.

Question 14

Who is regarded as the highest-ranking public servant?

Accepted Answer

The clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet is regarded as the highest-ranking public servant in Canada, serving as the head of the federal public service and advising the prime minister and Cabinet on matters of policy and administration. The governor of the Bank of Canada is an independent public official and not considered a public servant. The chief of staff is a political appointment and not a public servant. The auditor general is an officer of Parliament and not a public servant.

Question 15

What is an important principle of Cabinet operation?

Accepted Answer

Collective responsibility is a crucial principle of Cabinet operation, which means that all Cabinet members must fully support and defend Cabinet decisions and policies in public, even if they privately disagree. This helps to ensure unity and consistency in government actions and messaging. Compulsory attendance, political equality, and contribution to the budget may also be important factors in Cabinet operation, but they are not as fundamental as collective responsibility.

Question 16

Who are typically referred to as "ministers without portfolio"

Accepted Answer

Ministers without portfolio are typically junior ministers who do not have a specific departmental responsibility but assist other cabinet ministers as needed.

Question 17

What is the formal written document that a minister submits to Cabinet to change government policy?

Accepted Answer

A Memorandum to Cabinet is a formal written document that outlines a proposal for a change in government policy and is submitted by a minister to the Cabinet for approval. It includes background information, analysis of the issue, proposed options and their implications, and recommended actions. A Treasury Board submission is a similar document, but it is focused on financial matters and is submitted to the Treasury Board instead of the Cabinet. A bill is a formal document that is presented to Parliament to become law, and a record of decision is a document that summarizes the outcome of a decision-making process.

Question 18

The Treasury Board is a section of the Department of Finance.

Accepted Answer

The Treasury Board is a Cabinet committee.

Question 19

Balancing ethnic representation in Parliament is a cabinet-making convention in Canada

Accepted Answer

Balancing ethnic representation in Parliament is a cabinet-making convention in Canada. This convention is referred to as the "politics of recognition," which seeks to ensure that the diverse ethnic and cultural groups in Canada are represented in the government. It is a way to acknowledge and include the perspectives and experiences of different groups in the decision-making process.

Question 20

Since 1867, how many Prime Ministers have served at least a four-year term in office?

Accepted Answer

Since Confederation in 1867, there have been 23 Prime Ministers of Canada (as of 2021). Of those 23, only 13 have served at least a four-year term in office, while the others either died in office or were defeated in elections before completing a four-year term.

Quiz 21: The executive: crown, prime minister, and cabinet